Direct projections from the globus pallidus to the midbrain and pons in the cat

Neurosci Lett. 1992 Feb 3;135(2):179-83. doi: 10.1016/0304-3940(92)90431-6.

Abstract

Employing the anterograde and retrograde axonal tracing techniques with Phaseolus vulgaris leucoagglutinin and cholera toxin B subunit, we demonstrated direct projections from the globus pallidus (GP) to the midbrain and pons in the cat. Cells of origin of these projections were localized in the caudal 2/3 of the GP, and their major target sites included the peripeduncular region, nucleus of the brachium of the inferior colliculus, para-lateral lemniscal zone, nucleus sagulum, external and pericentral nuclei of the inferior colliculus, and cuneiform nucleus. A combination of retrograde axonal tracing and immunohistochemistry for choline acetyltransferase revealed that GP neurons giving rise to such descending projections were primarily non-cholinergic.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cats
  • Choline O-Acetyltransferase / metabolism
  • Globus Pallidus / cytology
  • Globus Pallidus / physiology*
  • Immunohistochemistry
  • Mesencephalon / cytology
  • Mesencephalon / physiology*
  • Neural Pathways / cytology
  • Neural Pathways / physiology
  • Phytohemagglutinins
  • Pons / cytology
  • Pons / physiology*
  • Stereotaxic Techniques

Substances

  • Phytohemagglutinins
  • leukoagglutinins, plants
  • Choline O-Acetyltransferase